Industrial and organizational psychology careers can include consulting work with organizations as a psychologist and teaching I/O principles to the next generation of future psychologists as a postsecondary instructor.
If you already hold clinical licensure as a therapist, you may be interested in transitioning into industrial and organizational psychology. Most states only license clinical and counseling psychologists and do not require an additional license for those who are becoming industrial and organizational psychologists.4
As an I/O psychologist, you could pursue work in a wide range of settings. Some I/O psychologists work with organizations and employees in the public or nonprofit sectors. Some work with health or community organizations. Others focus their work on private businesses across a wide range of industries.1
The typical daily responsibilities of an I/O psychologist can depend on the needs of the organization they’re working with.
In general, however, tasks may include any of the following:
- Evaluating employees’ need for training and development
- Planning and implementing training programs, and monitoring their effectiveness
- Providing coaching to individual employees
- Developing criteria for the evaluation of employee and organizational performance
- Planning organizational improvements to enhance employee satisfaction and improve the quality of the work culture and work/life balance
Another option to consider is to teach at the postsecondary level. A PhD is generally the minimum qualification necessary to pursue a teaching position at a university. Some universities also prefer to hire professors who have relevant work experience in their field of expertise.5
As a university professor, you might be responsible for both teaching and conducting research in the I/O psychology field. You would likely be expected to publish your work and findings in scholarly journals.
Other common tasks of postsecondary teachers can include the following:
- Developing course syllabi for each class, aligning with university and department standards
- Planning lessons and assignments
- Delivering lectures and encouraging class discussions
- Grading assignments, tests and research papers
- Attending departmental meetings and serving on academic committees
- Providing one-on-one assistance to students during office hours
- Serving as an academic advisor to students, such as by helping them select courses
